All units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted their first training in 2026 from Jan. 4-6, focusing on multiple subjects to enhance tactics and real combat capabilities.
At an airport in east China, several J-16 fighter jets from the PLA Eastern Theater Command took off in sequence to conduct a confrontation training. Above the clouds, opposing red and blue forces continuously changed tactics as they engaged in intense air combat.
Highlighting long-range precision strikes and maritime air support, an air unit from the Central Theater Command, flying several H-6K bombers, tested their capabilities in low-altitude penetration and electromagnetic confrontation.
Meanwhile, an air unit from the Northern Theater Command conducted a series of search and rescue trainings, as well as flights at low altitude and instrument flying under extreme weather conditions, to enhance the force's all-time and all-domain search and rescue capabilities.
PLA Air Force conducts first combat training in 2026
The United States and Iran reached an understanding on the issue of Iran's frozen financial assets on Monday through Qatari mediation, according to a source in Qatar familiar with the ongoing talks between the U.S. and the Iranian senior delegation in Doha.
The two sides are "very likely" to announce an agreement on Tuesday, as the issue of frozen financial assets is crucial to Iran, said the source.
The high-level Iranian delegation, which includes Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Doha on Monday for talks with Qatari officials on a possible peace agreement with the United States, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency.
The talks aim to advance diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan in recent weeks to end the "war of aggression imposed" by the United States and Israel against Iran, Mehr reported.
An official with the Qatari Foreign Ministry said that the talks focus on issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile, and frozen Iranian funds overseas. The Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati was present in the delegation and responsible for discussing financial matters that might be involved in a final agreement.
Iran and the United States reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting. Following the truce, they held one round of peace talks in Pakistan's Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.
US, Iran reach understanding on frozen assets: source
